Crockpot Mexican Chili Chicken

Crockpot Mexican Chili Chicken

3 boneless chicken breasts, cut into pieces (4 cups cooked chicken pieces)

2 cups water or chicken broth

1 medium bell pepper, chopped (1/2 cup)

1 small onion, chopped (or minced) (1/2 cup)

2/3 cup salsa

1 ½ t. cumin

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t. chili powder, optional

Salt and pepper, to taste

2 – 14 oz cans stewed or diced tomatoes or 1 – 28 ounce can

2 cans pinto beans (4 cups pinto beans)

Add everything to crockpot on low until done – 6-8 hours, if the chicken is raw.  For precooked chicken, place all ingredients in crockpot on low for about 2 hours.)

Serve with sour cream and cheese.

I got this recipe from my friend, Deanna LaPach.  My husband doesn’t like cumin, so I don’t put it in, but I first ate it at Deanna’s and it tastes good with it, too.  Also, she uses 1 can of Rotel tomatoes with one can of plain.  I use a 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes and keep it mild.  I put extra salsa on the table for the ones that want it spicier.

Tips for cooking this:  I prefer the flavor of chicken with bones, so I precook the chicken and then, bone it.  You could also use leftover baked chicken or turkey.  When I bake chicken, I bake extra and then, save the leftovers for this recipe or others.  I freeze leftover chicken in the amounts I need and I also freeze the chicken broth.

Also, I prefer to cook dried pintos for this recipe, thus, I added the cup measurements.  I cook a large pot of pinto beans, usually overnight in the crockpot and then, after they cool, I put them into containers and freeze them, so I can have them ready for recipes like this one.

If your chicken and broth are precooked and if your beans are precooked, this is very simple to put together and have ready quickly in the crockpot.  Since my chicken and beans are precooked, I saute’ the peppers and onions in butter and then, add them to the crockpot with the other ingredients.

I gave measurements for those that need it, but remember this is just a guideline.  You can use more or less chicken or beans, spices, etc, to taste.

This would be a good way to use leftover turkey, too!